“My attackers knew I was innocent” – Iftikhar Alam, a lynch victim

New Delhi: ‘Few of the attackers were known to me and kept attacking me despite knowing that I was innocent,’ claimed the youth who was allegedly thrashed by a mob in Sarai Kale Khan for suspected cattle theft. Iftikhar Alam (22), who works as mechanical assistant at a Metro construction site, was returning home with a colleague when the incident happened around 1.30 a.m. on Friday. “We were going home in an SUV when our vehicle was suddenly blocked by a concrete mixture truck. The driver told me to get down and clear the way. I obliged, and had barely walked a few steps when eight to 10 boys surrounded me and accused me of trying to steal buffaloes,” said Mr. Alam. “My car driver got scared and drove away. The boys then allegedly dragged me to a nearby village, where I was tied up and assaulted” added Alam. “Among the attackers were Dosra and Neeraj, who regularly visit my brother’s paan shop and know me. But they failed to pay heed to my pleas and kept thrashing me till I fell unconscious,” he said. “The attackers then called the police control room and untied me only after a police team reached the spot,” alleged Alam. “I was then taken to a police post, where my colleague Sandeep arrived and allegedly slapped me. He did this as he had colluded with the attackers and the police to frame me for stealing diesel since they realized that cattle theft charges won’t stick,” Alam said. “He slapped me in order to force me to admit that I was involved in diesel theft. Why should I take the blame for something I didn’t do? I am not a thief. I was simply going home,” he said. A case has been registered under Sections 323, 341 and 34 of the IPC at Sunlight Colony police station.